Meanings
plural propitiations
- countableuncountableThe act of propitiating; placation, atonement, similar to expiation but also involving the appeasement of anger.
Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God
1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], →OCLC, Romans 3:251 more example
At the base of the whole process by which divinities and demons were created, and rites for their propitiation and placation established, lay Fear - fear stimulating the imagination to fantastic activity.
1920, Edward Carpenter, Pagan and Christian Creeds, New York: Harcourt, Brace and Co., published 1921, page 13 - countableuncountablelifestyleThe death of Christ as a basis for the forgiveness of sin.
Synonyms & antonyms
nounthe act of placating and overcoming distrust and animosity
nounthe act of atoning for sin or wrongdoing (especially appeasing a deity)
Synonym sets from Open English WordNet, CC BY 4.0.
Origin
- Latinpropitiātiō
- Middle Frenchpropiciation, propitiation
- Anglo-Normanpropiciatiun
- Middle Englishpropiciacion, propiciacioun
- Englishpropitiation
From Middle English propiciacion, propiciacioun, from Anglo-Norman propiciatiun, Middle French propiciation, propitiation, and their etymon Latin propitiātiō (stem propitiātiōn-). By surface analysis, propitiate + -ion.
More words from Middle English, Anglo-Norman, Middle French
Full word history & related roots →Translations
Ancient Greek ἵλασμα, ἱλασμός
- ἵλασμα (hílasma)the act of propitiating; placation, atonement, expiation
- ἱλασμός (hilasmós)the act of propitiating; placation, atonement, expiation
Bulgarian умилостяване
- умилостяване (umilostjavane)the act of propitiating; placation, atonement, expiation
Catalan propiciació
- propiciacióthe act of propitiating; placation, atonement, expiation
Czech smíření, usmíření
- smířeníthe act of propitiating; placation, atonement, expiation
- usmířeníthe act of propitiating; placation, atonement, expiation
- smiřováníthe act of propitiating; placation, atonement, expiation
French expier, propitiation
- expierthe act of propitiating; placation, atonement, expiation
- propitiationthe act of propitiating; placation, atonement, expiation
Greek εξευμένιση, κατευνασμός
- εξευμένιση (exevménisi)the act of propitiating; placation, atonement, expiation
- κατευνασμός (katevnasmós)the act of propitiating; placation, atonement, expiation
Latin propitiātiō
- propitiātiōthe act of propitiating; placation, atonement, expiation
Polish przebłagiwanie
- przebłagiwaniethe act of propitiating; placation, atonement, expiation
Portuguese propiciação
- propiciaçãothe act of propitiating; placation, atonement, expiation
Romanian ispășire, ispăși
- ispășirethe act of propitiating; placation, atonement, expiation
- ispășithe act of propitiating; placation, atonement, expiation
Russian умилостивле́ние, умиротворе́ние
- умилостивле́ние (umilostivlénije)the act of propitiating; placation, atonement, expiation
- умиротворе́ние (umirotvorénije)the act of propitiating; placation, atonement, expiation
Spanish propiciación
- propiciaciónthe act of propitiating; placation, atonement, expiation
Cite this entry
propitiation. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 2, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/propitiation
“propitiation.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/propitiation. Accessed November 2, 2026.
WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “propitiation,” accessed November 2, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/propitiation.
Source: propitiation on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.